installation guide Suggested guidelines for the preparation and installation of Premier Structural Insulated Panels Stronger. Straighter. Greener.
Introduction Premier Building System’s SIPs Installation Guide has been divided into convenient sections covering most aspects of PBS SIPs installation. Designed for carpenters, framers, contractors and do-it-yourselfers, the instructions and detailed illustrations will give you the basics of building with PBS SIPs at just a glance.
Table of Contents PBS SIPs Tips........................................... 4 Storage & Handling................................... 6 Checklist of Tools...................................... 7 Spline Connection..................................... 8 Lumber Connection................................... 9 I-Joist Connection.................................... 10 Panel Basics – Assembly......................... 11 Fasteners .............................................. 12 Field Fabrication . ..................
PBS SIPs Tips • Project must meet local code. • Confirm your installation date at least two weeks prior to requesting on-site assistance. • Schedule a preconstruction meeting with your installation crew (concrete, plumbing, electrical, siding, roofing, etc.). • Inventory materials when you receive them. • Check all SIPs for proper cuts and recesses. • Double check SIPs sizes and compare to shop drawings before installation. • Engineered details take prescedence over PBS details.
• Make sure to drill the top and bottom plates for the vertical electrical chases in the wall panels. • Do not put plumbing inside SIPs. • Do not cut the skins (OSB) for extra electrical chases or plumbing. • Do not pick up the SIPs by the edge of the top skin. • Remove debris from sill plate before you place the SIP wall panel on it. • Use mastic on all connections as shown in the PBS details. • Make sure that both of the wall SIPs skins are bearing on the floor.
Storage & Handling Your panels will usually arrive on a flatbed truck. Depending on the site, panels should be off-loaded to a clean, flat area with sufficient maneuvering room. (A fork-lift will speed the off-load process.) Panels do not come in any particular order. This allows for minimized shipping costs by taking full advantage of the space available on the truck. It is advisable to sort the panels as you off load them. This process will require room to shift and stack the panels accordingly.
Checklist of Tools • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • One or two 29 oz.
Spline Connection Depending on the load requirements and application, Premier Panels are joined together in one of three fashions: Premier spline (Type ‘S’ panel), lumber spline (double 2x or 3x, Type ‘L’ panel) or engineered I-joists (Type ‘l’ panel). Premier splines – This is the most common connection between Premier Panels. Splines should be cut flush or slightly short (about 1/16”) of the foam in the panel ends.
Lumber Connection Lumber spline – PBS panels are designed to accept kiln dried lumber set into a standard 1 1/2” recess along the bottom, top, corners and window openings of the panels. Simply cut the plates to length, apply a 3/8” bead of Premier Mastic between plys of the dimensional spline and nail dimensional splines together. Apply a 3/8” bead of Premier Mastic along the sides and center of the recess, set the lumber into the recesses and nail off through the skins with 8d nails 6” o.c.
I-Joist Connection I-Joists – These are mainly used in roof and floor connections. Premier Mastic is applied to the outer edges of the flanges prior to placement in the panel recess. Expanding foam is applied on both sides of the web to ensure a proper seal with the panel.
Panel Basics – Assembly When assembling wall panels, whenever possible, use a scissor-like motion to place the panels. To do this, push the bottom corner so that the skins touch. While holding the top of the panel out about 24” brace your foot on the bottom of the panel, then push the top into place. Be sure to watch your fingers. If you have difficulty getting the panels together, use either trucking straps, bar clamps or dunnage and a sledge hammer with enough force to bring the panels together.
Fasteners Typically, an 8d nail 6” (o.c.) is used to connect panels to top and bottom plates at spline connections and for dimensional plating. Staples are permitted, provided they meet the following criteria: Minimum length = 1.5” 14 gauge @ 6” o.c., 16 gauge @ 4” o.c. Field Fabrication Field fabrication will be necessary on the site if you ordered stock panels.
Metal straight edges can be helpful. For fast, accurate cuts that are close to a panel edge, use ripping guides for circular saws. If you are using a circular saw, lay out one face and then square it across the panel skins to transfer your mark to the opposite skin before making your cut. Use the maximum depth of cut setting on your saw and make a nice straight cut. Flip the panel over to layout that side and make a similar cut.
Field Fabrication Rake/Gable Walls Rake/Gable Walls – are easily calculated and laid out on the panels. First, establish the short side dimension. Next, mark this measurement on both edges. Draw a line horizontally across the panel. The rise across the panel will be determined by your roof pitch. If your panel is 4’ wide, multiply the roof pitch by 4’ to get your rise (in inches) on the other side of the panel. For example, a 6:12 pitch will gain 24” (4’ x 6” = 24”).
Use the long point of one panel to establish the short point of the next adjoining panel. Add a small amount to this measurement to allow for the required 1/8” gap as determined by the roof pitch factor. Continue on to the ridge or highest point. After all rake walls are erected, small adjustments can be made to make the plane of the rake flat: either plane off the high spots on the rake panel skins and re-cut the foam, or just raise the plate slightly to get a straight line along the rake/gable.
Use only one nail into each 4’ spline to hold it in place. Do not nail off the spline until the next panel is in place. Refer back to the connections section for proper mastic placement. Before placing the panels on the floor support beams, tack a dry-line spaced 1/2”–3/4” out from the entire length of the support beam. Use temporary bracing to help hold these beams in place. When setting the panels, make sure the beam stays straight by checking your string line.
8d NAILS @ 6" O.C. OR EQUIVALENT U.N.O. PREMIER SPLINE OR OTHER PANEL CONNECTION AS REQUIRED BY DESIGN PREMIER SPLINE OR OTHER PANEL CONNECTION AS REQUIRED BY DESIGN FULL BEARING BLOCKING REQUIRED UNDER POINT LOADS CONTINUOUS RIM BETWEEN SUPPORT MEMBERS PANEL TIP > Stagger your panel placement with two panels on one side of the beam, four panels on the other side, and four back on the first side of the beam. This will help your beam stay straight. Assemble floor panels using a scissor action.
Sill Plates Check your bottom plates to see if they are all the same dimension in width. Install all of the sill plates level ( ± 1/8”), square (within a 1/4” of being square on the longest diagonal), and to the exact dimensions of the layouts on the shop drawings. When placement of the wall panels is directly on top of a concrete foundation, remember that because the panel skins cannot bear directly on the concrete, a capillary break and solid bearing is required.
If the plates are not laid out to the exact desired dimensions and within 1/8” of level, extensive panel modifications may be required later. Dimensions for the foundation and sill plates (and the walls that follow) are usually the same as the exterior of the wall panel skins—not the lumber plate that is inside them. This is different from stick framing where the dimensions usually refer to the outside edge of the framing member.
Walls Time should be spent to organize the job site. Set out the panels in the order you are going to use them. Get all your tools onto the floor deck, including: • Foam scoop • Marker • Flat dolly—for moving panels around the deck (A come-along or truckers ratchet straps is not needed, but may prove useful.) STEP 1. BOTTOM PLATE Wall panels are placed over a dimensional bottom plate that fits in the recess in the wall panel. Refer to your panel layout drawings for the location of the bottom plate.
STEP 2. LAYOUT TRANSFER Using a black marker, transfer the panel layouts to the bottom plate. Include all window and door openings as well as the vertical electrical chases in each wall panel. If electrical chases are being utilized, drill the chase holes as you set each panel using a minimum 1 1/2” bit. (Do not drill all the chase holes down the entire wall, because as panel joints grow you will be off center as you get to the end of the wall.) STEP 3.
Check the panel dimensions against the floor layout. Apply a 3/8” diameter bead of Premier Mastic along the sides and down the center of the bottom plate. Slide the panel into position. Lift the panel over the bottom plate by using either manpower or mechanical means. After the panel is standing, check for proper placement. Next, plumb the wall section in both directions and fasten it to the plate and the adjacent panel with the specified fasteners.
Set the splines into the grooves of the fixed (standing) panel. Bring your connecting panel into position over the bottom plate, tilted slightly away from the fixed panel. Butt the skins together at the bottom and scissor the walls together using a sharp motion. STEP 5. FASTENING Plumb the panel in both directions. It may be necessary to tack the bottom of the panel to hold it in place while the plumbing process takes place.
After all of the walls are up, prior to setting your top plate, check and plumb the alignment of each wall, getting as close to square and plumb as possible. If electrical chases are being utilized, mark the vertical chases onto your dimensional lumber top plate. Cut the top plate so that the ends of the top plate have a minimum 2’ overlap with the wall panel seams. Apply a 3/8” diameter bead of Premier Mastic down the center and along each edge of the wall panel recess.
this panel. Set the next panel into place over the bottom plate and tip it into its final position. Measure the total depth of the header required and add any sheathing or plating to the top or bottom of the header to achieve this dimension. Measure the maximum length the header can be and cut the header 1/8” short of this, taking care to avoid the nails in the Insul-Beam II as you cut. Apply Premier Mastic to the insides of the opening and drop the Insul-Beam II horizontally into place.
Cut your panel top plate to be continuous over the opening and at least 1’ past each end of the opening and 1’ from any panel joint. Install the top plate into the panel recess and over the header. Nail the top plate to the Insul-Beam II first with 2 16d nails 12” o.c. Nail the panel skins on either side of the header to the top plate first then down the sides of the panels along the Insul-Beam II.
Another option: Once the top plate is in, you may now also hang joists directly from the wall panel. Use a joist hanger with a nailable top flange. The flange should bear at least 1.5” (2” is best) on to the top plate. Nail the top flange following the fastening schedule specified by the engineer. As always, consult with your engineer of record concerning your specific design requirements.
Roofs Upon receiving your roof panels, count them and check the sizes. In most cases roof panels are not fabricated at the factory because roofs tend to vary from the shop drawings. If they have been factory fabricated, double check for accuracy. Also, check the edge treatment. You may have to plane your lumber or I-joists to fit the recesses. If the panels aren’t being installed immediately, cover the panels and lumber until ready for installation.
On the Ground Prior to lifting, install as many of your dimensional lumber splines and I-joist splines as possible along the connecting sides of each roof panel. Premier splines should be installed as panels are installed. The dimensional lumber at the ridge and eaves should be installed after the panels are set in place. (If panels are perpendicular to the ridge.) Cut a bevel block out of dimensional lumber to the same pitch as the roof and fasten the full length of the ridge.
Use a lifting plate that is 12”x12”x3/16” with a 4x5 grid of holes to attach screws through and into the OSB skin of the panels. (The plate should have a “U” welded to it to fasten the lifting device to.) A minimum of two plates should be used to lift each panel. Determine the center of each panel. Depending on the pitch of the roof, drill your hole for the picking eye, or place the center of the two lifting plates, 3” from the center of the panel toward the ridge end for every pitch change after 4:12.
Valley Connections – Premier Panels can be used in hips and valleys. Consult with your Premier Sales Professional and the Premier Detail manual for more information. Ridge Cap – Begin by trimming off 1/2” from the bottom of the ridge cap point. Spray a high-yield, expanding foam into the bottom and along the sides of the ridge and set the ridge cap in place. Adhere two strips of OSB to the top of the ridge using Premier Mastic and Panel Screws.
Insul-Lam Insul-Lam is used as a non-structural nail base in either a one or two layer system. Two-Layer System – Begin by installing the 2x dimensional lumber dam around the perimeter of the roof. The height of the dam is determined by the depth of Insul-Lam being installed. In residential applications, PBS recommends the use of a vapor retarder with either the one or two layer systems.
fasten the OSB into the 2x lumber with 8d nails 6” o.c. or according to the engineers requirements. Where vapor retarders are required they should be applied before the installation of the Insul-Lam panels. Roof cladding and/or finish materials should be installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations. Electrical General Guidelines Never cut long grooves in the skin of a panel. Long grooves in the skin can seriously compromise the structural integrity of your panels.
Push or pull all wires through a chase simultaneously. With an electrician’s pliers fold and crimp the longest wire back on itself about 1”. Wrap electrical tape around that end. Stagger remaining wires flat side to flat side and tape these to the long wire below the crimp. Have 8”–10” of straight wire to slide into the electrical chase holes. As a general rule, don’t try to go horizontal between outlets or switches in the panels unless the distance is short and you have no other options.
Plumbing Whether you are building a standard stick frame house or a panel home, Premier does not recommend placing plumbing chases in the exterior walls. This eliminates the possibility for condensation and frozen pipes. Situations do arise in which it becomes necessary for a builder to consider options for chases in the exterior walls such as a kitchen sink next to a window or washer and dryer unit next to an exterior wall.
Shearwalls A shearwall is a vertical bracing element that transfers the in-plane forces imposed on a floor or roof diaphragm to the foundation. Wood framed buildings use shearwalls as the vertical bracing element or lateral load resisting element almost exclusively. The most common way to anchor panels is to measure and cut out an access plate in the panel wall adjacent to the tension post. Allow enough room to maneuver the holdown and 2x blocking.
Premier Panel R-Values Type I modified EPS core Core Thickness R-Value at 75˚ R-Value at 40˚ 3-1/2” 15 16 5 -1/2” 23 24 7-1/4” 30 31 9-1/4” 38 39 11-1/4” 46 47 37
8’ 3500 4250 4917 4200 3890 10’ 2553 4042 4325 4200 3890 Wall Panel Height (ft.) 12’ 16’ 2452 NA 3373 3358 4473 4194 4200 4200 3890 3890 Axial loads represent ultimate load divided by a safety factor of 3.
8’ 4723 5849 6850 5470 4500 10’ 3903 5889 6111 5470 4333 Wall Panel Height (ft.) 12’ 16’ 3094 2350 4278 4311 5556 5181 5470 5470 4167 3750 Axial loads represent ultimate load divided by a safety factor of 3. Loads do not reflect secondary effect of P∆ 2x’s are spaced 4’ on center.
7 1/4” 5 1/2” 3 1/2” Panel Core Thickness L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 Deflection 4’ 99 151 154* 102 159 166* 119 160* 160* 40 10’ 28 43 57 38 57 60* 60 75* 75* Maximum Floor Span 8’ 38 54 61* 49 78 80* 59 84 85* 12’ 21 32 45 30 45 46* 41 60 69* Maximum Roof Span Panel Span (ft.
L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 Deflection 160* 4’ 138 160* 160* 115 160* 94* 8’ 78 86* 86* 94* 94* 59* 12’ 53 57* 57* 51 59* 55* 45* 18’ 27 41 42* 38 45* Maximum Roof Span 51* Panel Span (ft.) 14’ 16’ 41 33 51* 46* 51* 46* 49 47 55* 51* Maximum Floor Span 76* 10’ 64 65* 65* 75 76* 39* 20’ 22 34 39* 28 39* 36* 22’ 20 29 37* 24 36 33* 24’ 17 25 34 21 31 * indicates ultimate load divided by 3 for the design capacity. 4’ span is a minimum two span condition.
7 1/4” 5 1/2” 3 1/2” Panel Core Thickness L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 Deflection 4’ 98 225 298* 241 288* 288* 241 288* 288* 8’ 45 67 90 128 182* 182* 168 188* 188* 10’ 32 47 61 57 86 112* 80 126 133* 42 NA 15 22 29 24 34 44 20 29 39 33 49 62 20’ NA 18’ Maximum Roof Span Panel Span (ft.
L/360 L/240 L/180 L/360 L/240 L/180 Deflection 4’ 274 326* 326* 327* 327* 327* 8’ 188* 188* 188* 188* 188* 188* 10’ 116 147* 147* 167* 167* 167* 12’ 100 134* 134* 140 153* 153* Panel Span (ft.) 14’ 16’ 80 58 120 90 121* 108* 116 90 132* 110* 132* 110* 18’ 47 70 93 75 97* 97* 20’ 36 52 68 57 83* 83* 22’ 32 46 61 47 69 83* 24’ 28 41 53 36 53 70 Maximum Floor Span Maximum Roof Span * indicates ultimate load divided by 3 for the design capacity. 2X’s are Hem-Fir #2 or equivalent.
318* 318* L/240 L/180 258 318* L/360 L/180 197 318* L/360 L/240 318* 318* L/240 132 4’ L/180 L/360 Deflection 143* 143* 143* 164* 164* 164* 148* 148* 136 8’ 103* 103* 103* 124* 124* 124* 107* 107* 93 10’ 93* 93* 86 107* 107* 72 92* 91 60 12’ 85* 85* 83 96* 96* 66 85 70 48 14’ 77* 77* 77* 84* 84* 61 54 54 40 16’ Panel Span (ft.
Load Chart 6 Point Load Design Values on Premier Wall SIPs Standard Detail Additional Cap Plate 1 1/2” min. bearing width 3” min. bearing width 2040 lbs. 2450 lbs. 4030 lbs. 4678 lbs. More information on this chart can be found in PBS Technical Bulletin #2 (www.pbssips.com). Refer to PBS Detail-010 for cap plate detail (www.pbssips.
L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 Deflection 4’ 740* 740* 740* 798* 798* 798* 886* 886* 886* Header Span (ft.) 6’ 8’ 385* 229* 385* 229* 385* 229* 574* 385* 574* 385* 574* 385* 629* 429* 629* 429* 629* 429* 10’ 142* 142* 142* 311* 311* 311* 361* 361* 361* * indicates ultimate load divided by 3 for the design capacity.
L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 Deflection 4’ 345 450 630 705 750* 750* 698 895* 895* Header Span (ft.) 6’ 8’ 243 156 295 190 382 236* 388 254 482 302* 482 302* 582* 368* 582* 368* 582* 368* 10’ 99 125 153* 235 281* 281* 350* 350* 350* * indicates ultimate load divided by 3 for the design capacity.
2 1 No. of Trimmer Studs L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 Deflection 2’ 3150 3150 3150 6300 6300 6300 3’ 2100 2100 2100 4200 4200 4200 Header Span (ft.
L/480 L/360 L/240 L/480 L/360 L/240 Deflection 9’ 700 700 700 1085 1400 1400 10’ 630 630 630 791 1055 1245 11’ 573 573 573 594 792 792 Header Span (ft.) 12’ 13’ 458 360 525 480 525 485 458 360 610 480 864 720 14’ 288 384 450 288 384 577 15’ 234 313 420 234 313 469 Values listed for each deflection represent the least value of the bearing capacity of the trimmer, shear or bending capacity of the header or the actual deflection at the design load.
1. 2. 3. 4. 7/16” 7/16” L or S S Attachments 2x Framing Splines Fasteners Spacing Fasteners Spacing 8d box nail 6 inches 8d nail 6 inches 8d box nail 4 inches #6 screw3 4 inches Framing lumber shall be a minimum of SPF #2 having a minimum specific gravity of 0.43. The maximum panel height-to-width ratio shall be 3.5:1 Screws are #6 x 1-1/4 inch Type W drywall screws. Two top plates are required.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7/16” L or S 51 10d box nail 6” oc - 2 rows3 8d box nail 6” oc 8d box nail 4” oc - 2 rows3 Top Plate Attachments Bottom Vertical Plate Framing 8d box 8d box nail 6” nail 6” oc oc - 2 rows4 8d box 8d box nail 4” nail 4” oc oc - 2 rows4 10d box nail 10d box 6” oc - 2 nail 3” oc rows4 10d box nail 3” oc - 2 rows 8d box nail 6” oc 8d box nail 4” oc Splines5 Framing lumber shall be a minimum of SPF #2 having a minimum specific gravity of 0.43.
Fasteners PBS Screw2 PBS Screw2 PBS Screw2 PBS Screw2 4 inches 4 inches 3 inches 12 inches Spacing Panel Supports 8d nail - 2 rows 8d nail - 2 rows 8d nail 8d nail Fasteners 3 inches 3 inches 2 inches 3 inches Spacing Panel Joints - Top Only Attachments 1. The maximum panel height-to-width ratio shall be 4.5:1. 2. Premier Building Systems specially-designed big screws.
Exp B -15.1 -15.1 -15.1 -15.1 -15.9 -16.5 -16.9 -17.5 -18.0 -18.4 -15.1 -18.7 -22.6 Wall Loads (psf) - End Zone (Zone 5) for 100sf to 500 sf effective wind area 90 MPH 100 MPH 110 MPH Exp C Exp D Exp B Exp C Exp D Exp B Exp C Exp D -18.3 -22.2 -18.7 -22.6 -27.5 -22.6 -27.3 -33.2 -19.5 -23.4 -18.7 -24.1 -29.0 -22.6 -29.2 -35.0 -20.4 -24.3 -18.7 -25.2 -30.1 -22.6 -30.5 -36.4 -21.1 -25.1 -18.7 -26.2 -31.0 -22.6 -31.6 -37.5 -21.9 -25.7 -19.6 -27.1 -31.8 -23.7 -32.8 -38.4 -22.5 -26.3 -20.4 -27.9 -32.
-31.6 -36.7 -42.1 Wall Loads (psf) - End Zone (Zone 5) for 100sf to 500sf effective wind area 130 MPH 140 MPH 150 MPH Exp B Exp C Exp D Exp B Exp C Exp D Exp B Exp C Exp D -31.6 -38.2 -46.5 -36.7 -44.4 -53.9 -42.1 -50.9 -61.9 -31.6 -40.8 -49.0 -36.7 -47.3 -56.9 -42.1 -54.3 -65.3 -31.6 -42.7 -50.9 -36.7 -49.5 -59.1 -42.1 -56.8 -67.8 -31.6 -44.2 -52.5 -36.7 -51.4 -60.9 -42.1 -58.9 -69.9 -33.2 -45.8 -53.7 -38.5 -53.2 -62.4 -44.2 -61.1 -71.6 -34.4 -47.1 -55.0 -40.0 -54.7 -63.9 -45.9 -62.7 -73.3 -35.
REGIONAL FIELD OFFICES NORTHWEST 4609 70th Ave. East Fife, WA 98424 253-926-2020 800-275-7086 SOUTHWEST 3434 W. Papago St. Phoenix, AZ 85009 602-269-7266 800-240-6691 TECHNICAL CENTER 17001 Fish Point Rd. #101 Prior Lake, MN 55372 800-469-8870 Contact us for more information: Website: www.pbssips.com Email: info@pbssips.
